In 2013, as the year progressed, the power became less and less reliable, until it seemed that we had power more like 60% of the time.
Now we're quite aware that we're fortunate to have any power at all! However when you depend on computers and printers for a large part of your work, only having power 60% of the time greatly restricts your freedom for working.
So, we saw the writing on the wall, and sprang for a solar system. We thank God that we were able to get a system powerful enough for our needs exactly to the shilling of our (quite small) budget!
[And we're so happy we did, because in this year 2014, the power has been on more like 40-50% of the time!]
So here is the saga (yes, "saga"!) of the installation of the solar system, which took place at the beginning of May.
[No photos, sorry!]
Step #2: Drill holes
Drill holes for bolts to hold panels in the frame. Alternate between power-drilling and gruelling hand-drilling (due to power outages).
[Note: Had we not already had a ladder from getting the roof re-thatched in February, then "Make a ladder" would have been pre-Step #1!]
Given the very scary ladder, make a lasso to tie a bamboo safety support that can be held on the roof. Climb the scary ladder. Use the lasso to hook the bamboo onto the spire of the roof. Then secure the bamboo by tying to bars on a window in the house.
Step #10: Sigh a moment that nobody has gotten hurt thus far!